Discharge head for fluid containers



Feb. 6, 1934. Q N WlsWELL 1,945,715

DISCHARGE HEAD FOR FLUID CONTAINERS Filed Jan. 17, 1931 Patented Feb. 6,1934 1,945,715 DISCHARGE HEAD FOR FLUID CQNTAIINERS Ozro N. Wiswell, LosAngeles, Calif., assigner, by mesne assignments, to C-G-Two FireEquipment Company, of Delaware Newark, N. J., a corporation Application`lanuary 17, 1931. Serial No. 509,454

8 Claims.

This invention has to do with a control head or discharge head forreleasing iiuid from a container, and relates more particularly to adevice for actuating a discharge head of a container holding fluid underpressure. The present invention relates to improvements on the generaltype of device fully described and claimed in Patent No. 1,782,020 cithe United States, granted to Scott E. Allen and Ozro N. WiswellNovember 18, 1930, entitled Head for puncturing closure.

Containers or cylinders for carrying carbon dioxide, or the like, foruse in fire-extinguishing systems, are commonly provided with controlheads or discharge heads operable to puncture 1 closures of thecontainers to release the fluid.

Certain types of discharge heads are provided with vertical operatingstems adapted to be depressed manually or by mechanical means to causethe release of the uid from the containers.

Containers or cylinders carrying CO2, or other nre-extinguishingmediums, are sometimes positioned in connned or inconvenient locationswhere it is dinicult to operate the stems of the heads manually, orwhere it is difficult to provide 20 for the mechanical operation of thestems.

It is a general object of the present invention to provide a. controlhead or discharge head for releasing iiuid from a container thatembodies an operating means adapted to be set or adjusted for actuationby a force applied in any one ci a plurality of diierent directions.

It is another object of the invention to provide a discharge head of thegeneral character referred to that is adap-ted to be actuated from 30 aremote point by means of a cable, or the like, and that includes anactuating means that may be set or positioned to allow the cable toextend from the head in any one of a number of diiierent directions. 4It is another object of the invention to provide an attachment for adischarge head having an operating stem that may be operated from aremote point by means of a cable, or the like, v to operate or depressthe stem. A It is another object of the invention to provide anattachment of the character mentioned that may be actuated by a line orcable and which may be adjusted to have the cable extend from the headin any desired rotative direction and/ or a in any one of a number ofdifferent tangential directions.

It is another object of the invention to provide an attachment of thecharacter mentioned that is simple and inexpensive in construction andthat is positive and dependable in operation.

(Cl. Idil-11) A further object of the invention is to provide anattachment of the character mentioned that may be easily and quicklymounted on discharge heads of various types or designs.

Other objects and features of the invention will be best and more fullyunderstood from the following detailed description of a typical form andapplication of the invention, throughout which description referencewill be had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a side elevation of the attachment provided by the presentinvention illustrating it mounted on a typical discharge head. Fig. 2 isa top or plan view of the device. Fig. 3 is an enlarged Verticaldetailed sectional view of the discharge head and the attachment. Fig. 4is a vertical detailed sectional view taken substantially as indicatedby line 4 4 on Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken as indicated byline 5-5 on Fig. 3, and Fig. 6 is an enlarged detailed 75,v sectionalview taken substantially as indicated byline 6 6 on Fig. 4.

The attachment provided by the present invention is adapted for use inconnection with control heads or discharge heads varying somewhat incharacter. The device is particularly well suited for use on heads ofthe type having an operating stem adapted to be depressed to cause thedischarge of fluid from a container. Throughout the following detaileddescription the attachment will be vdescribed in connection with adischarge head of the general character fully set forth and claimed inthe copending application of Scott E. Allen `and Ozro N. Wiswell,entitled Non-stalling self-energizing head for puncturing closure discs,Serial Number 349,150, filed March 22, 1930. It is toI be understood,however, that the invention is not to be taken as restricted for use onthe particular type of head illustrated in the drawings or to thespecific details of construction about to be described, but that it isto be taken as including any features or modications that may fallWithin the scope of the claims.

The control head or discharge head illustrated in the drawings includes,generally, a body 10, a cutter 11 in the body 10 for opening orpuncturing a closure disc 12 of a duid container, a fluid pressureactuated means 13 for operating the cutter l1, and manual means 14- foroperating the cutter.

The body l0 of the head is adapted to be mounted on a container orcylinder holding uid, for example, carbon dioxide under pressure. It iscommon practice to provide a tting or valve member on a uid containingcylinder to facilitate the filling and discharging of the cylinder. 110

These fittings are commonly termed cylinder valves, and in Fig. 3 of thedrawings I have illustrated a typical cylinder valve 15 which may beconsidered as being mounted on the upper end of a fluid containingcylinder. The fitting or cylinder valve 15 is provided with a centralvertical opening or passage 16 adapted to communicate with the interiorof the container. The upper portion of the valve 15 may be of enlargeddiameter and may be externally screw threaded as illustrated in thedrawings. The upper portion of the passage 16 is of enlarged diameter,and a tubular nut 17 is threaded therein tol retain the closure disc 12in position where it closes the upper end of the passage 16. The closuredisc 12 is frangible and is adapted to be cut or perforated by thecutter 11, as will be hereinafter described.

The head body is detachably mounted on the upper end of the cylindervalve 15. The body 10 may be detachably mounted on the cylinder valve bymeans of a union or coupling member 18 screw threaded onto the enlargedupper end of the cylinder valve. A cylindrical chamber or cylinderopening 19 is provided in the body 10. The cylinder opening 19 extendsupwardly in the body 10 from its lower end, and its upper end portion isof reduced diameter.

The cutter 11 is provided to cut out or puncture the frangible disc 12and is carried within the cylinder opening 19 by the fluid pressureactuated means 13. In the particular type of discharge head illustratedin the drawings, the cutter 11 is tubular, having a central longitudinalopening 20. The lower end of the cutter 11 is inclined and provided wtihsharpened edges to eifectively cut the frangible closure disc 12.

The fluid pressure actuated means 13 for operating the cutter 11 is inthe nature of a cylinder and piston means and includes a piston 21operable in the cylinder opening 19. A head 22 may be provided on theupper end of the cutter 11 and may be screw threaded into the lower endof a fluid passage 23 in the piston 21. The upper end of the piston 21may be of reduced diameter, and the passage 23 may extend upwardly intothe reduced end of the piston. The opening of the cutter communicateswith the passage 23 to discharge fluid into the passage, and lateralports 24 are provided in the piston to extend from the passage 23 to theupper portion of the cylinder opening 19. Conduits 25 communicate withthe upper end portion of the cylinder opening 19. In the caseillustrated there are two conduits 25 one of which may be considered asbeing connected with the cylinder opening of a discharge head, while theother may be taken as discharging into a discharge line or manifold.

A check valve may be provided in the passage 23 to prevent the flow offiud under pressure downwardly through the opening 2G. A ball 26 may bearranged in the passage 23 to cooperate with a seat in the upper end ofthe opening 2O to prevent fluid from passing downwardly through thecutter. Lateral ports or vents 27 may he provided in the lower portionof the body 10 to permit the escape of air or fluid trapped in the lowerportion of the cylinder opening upon actuation of the head. A sealingwasher 23 may be mounted on the lower end of the piston 21 to seal withthe upper end of the nut 17 when the piston is in the down or actuatedposition. It will be apparent how fluid discharged into the upper endyof the cylinder opening 19 from a conduit 25 actuates the pistondownwardly to cause the cutter l1 to puncture the closure disc 12.

The means 14 for manually operating the discharge head includes a stem29 projecting upwardly from the reduced upper end of the piston 21. Thestem 29 slidably passes through an opening 30 in the body 10 to projectabove the upper end of the body. A knob or head 31 may be provided onthe upper end of the operating stem 29. A helical spring 32 is arrangedunder compression between the body 10 and the head 31 to norrrrallyyieldingly hold the piston 21 and cutter 11 in the up or unactuatedposition.

The attachment provided by this invention is intended primarily tooperate or depress the stem 29 to actuate the head 10 and is such thatit may be controlled or operated from a remote point either manually ormechanically. The attachment includes, generally, a casing or body 33adapted to be mounted on the upper end of the body 10 of the head, a cam34 in the body 33 for operating the stem 29, a sheave or drum 35 inconnection with the cam 34 for carrying a cable C for rotating the cam,and a head or end plate 36 for the casing 33.

The casing or body 33 of the attachment is adapted to be detachablymounted on the upper end of the head body l0 and is provided to carrythe various parts of the attachment. The body 33 may be round orcylindrical in its general configuration and may be provided at itslower end with a polygonal boss 37. The boss 37 is provided with a screwthreaded opening 38 for connecting with or receiving a screw-threadedpin 39 on the upper end of the head body 1G. L1 accordance with theinvention, the casing or body 33 may be set in any rotative positiondesired by turning or threading the boss 37 on the pin 39. The body 33may be set in the desired rotative position by means of a set screw 40carried by the boss 37 for clamping against the threaded pin 39.

rIhe casing 33 is chambered or provided with an opening 41 forcontaining the cam 34. The opening 41 is preferably round in crosssection and has a horizontal central longitudinal axis. The longitudinalaxis of the opening 41 is preferably normal to the longitudnal axis ofthe operating stem 29. The chamber or opening 41 joins or communicateswith the upper end of the opening 38. The opening 38 passes theoperating stem 29, and the upper end of the stein and the head 31 arenormally disposed within the opening 4l. The opening 41 extends to or isopen at what we will term the outer side of the casing, and a radiallyprojecting flange 42 is provided on the casing 33 around the outer endof the opening 4l.

The cam 34 is rotatably or pivotally mounted within the casing body 33and is in engagement with the upper end of the head 31. The cam 34 ispivotally supported by the end plate -or head 36, as will be hereinafterdescribed. The axis of pivotal movernent of the cam 34 is preferablyconcentric with the central horizontal axis of the opening 41. Theexterior of the cam 34 presents a curved cam face 43 for cooperatingwith the head 31 to depress the stem upon operation of the cable C. Thecam face 43 may be in the nature of a continuously curved face andpreferably extends a considerable distance around the cam. The cam face43 terminates at its innermost end at a flat face or shoulder 44. Thecam 34 is normally in a rotative position where the flat shoulder 44 isin engagement with the upper end of the head 31.

The cam face 43 may extend around the cam 34 from one end of theshoulder 44 to the other l turns or windings on may pass from and may besuch that it cooperates with the head 3l to depress the stem 29 upon thecam being rotated in a clockwise direction. The invention provides stopmeans for limiting the pivotal movement of the cam 34. A pin projectsfrom the inner end of the cam 34 and is adapted to cooperate with a stopprojection 46 on the inner wall of the opening 41. The pin 45 may bepositioned to engage the stop projection 46 when the cam 34 is in theunactuated position to prevent retation of the cam in a counterclockwisedirection.

The sheave or drum 35 is provided to carry the active end portion of theline or cable C. In practice the drum 35 may be formed integral with thecam 34 and may be in the nature of an axial ange of enlarged diameterprojecting from the outer end of the cam. The cable carrying exterior ofthe drum 35 is cylindrical and concentric to the axis of rotation of thecam 34. The bulk or major portion of the drum 35 projects beyond theouter end of the casing body 33 and is enclosed by the head 36. A radialflange 47 may be provided at the outer edge of the drum 35 to preventdisplacement of the cable C from the drum.

The operating line or cable C may be formed of suitable cord, wire,cable, lor the like. The

line C is provided to cause turning of the cam 34 to actuate the headand may be considered as extending to a remote point where it may beoperated or pulled manually or by suitable .mechanical means. The end ofthe line C is attached to the drum or cam, and the line has several thedrum. It is preferred turns or windings of the cable C on the drum 35when the parts are in the normal or unactuated position. In accordancewith the broader principles of the invento have at least two tion, thecable C may be attached to the drum or cam in any suitable manner. Inthe particular case illustrated, the end portion of the line or cablepasses inwardly through a groove or opening 48 to the inner end of thecam 34. The line may be wrapped about a screw`49 threaded into anopening in the inner end of the cam and countersunk in the end of theopening 48. The screw 49 effectively connects the cable C with the cam.The extreme end part of the cable C under the head of the screw 49 intoa groove 50 in the cam.

The head or end plate 36 closes the open end of the casing body 33 androtatably supports the cam 34. The head 36 is round or cylindrical inits general configuration, and its inner side is relieved or providedwith an annular recess 51 to carry the drum ange 35. A radiallyprojecting annular ange 52 is provided at the inner end of the head 36to seat against the flange 42.. The flanges 42 and 52 are preferably ofthe same diameter. lThe head 36 is attached to the casing body 33 by aplurality of screws 53 arranged through equally spaced openings in theflange 42. There may be any desired number of screws 53 and they maypass through openings in the ange 42 and thread into openings 70 in theflange 52. 1n the preferred form of the invention there are acomparatively large number of threaded openings 70 in the flange 52 sothat the head may be set in various rotative positions. The screws 53are readily removed to permit the setting of the head 36 in any desiredrotative position.

IThe means for rotatably or pivotally supporting the cam 34 includes astub shaft or trunnion 3. 54 projecting from the outer end of the cam. Aboss 55 is provided on the inner side of the head 36, and its inner endmay engage the outer end of the cam. The trunnion 54 is rotatable in acentral opening 56 in' the boss 55 and head. The trunnion 54 may extendcompletely through the opening 56, and a pin 57 of reduced diameter maybe provided on the outer end of the trunnion to project from the head36. A central bearing projection 58 may be provided on the inner wall ofthe opening 41 to engage the inner end of the cam 34. The cam is heldagainst axial movement between the bearing projection 58 and the innerend of the boss 55. A pointer arm 60 may be mounted on the pin 57 toindicate the rotative position of the cam 34. The reduced in 57 may beprovided with a flattened side, and an opening 61 of correspondingconfiguration is provided in the arm 60 to receive the pin. A screw 62may be provided to secure the arm 60 to the trunnion 54. The arm 60 maybe set so that it is vertical when the cam 54 is in the position, and anarrow or marking 63 may be provided on the inner side of the flange 42to indicate the proper normal position of the arm 60. The ann 60preferably projects beyond the iianges 42 and 52 so that it is visiblefrom either end of the attachment.

An opening 64 is provided in the head 36 to pass the cable C from thecasing. The opening 64 is preferably tangential to the drum 35 and issuil'iciently large in diameter to pass the line or cable wi.hconsiderable clearance. 65 may be provided around the outer end of theopening 64 to guide the cable.

The casing body 33 of the attachment may be mounted on the control headin any desired rotative position by turning the boss 37 to the desiredposition on the pin 39. The set screw 40 maybe employed to set thecasing in the desired position. The head or end plate 36 may be removedfrom the casing by unthreading or removing the screws 53 from theopenings 70. then be turned so that the line extend from the attachmentin the desired direction. The screws 53 may then be threaded into theopenings in the ilange 52 to clamp the head in the desired position. Itis to be understood that during removal and adjustment of the head 36that the cam 34 or arm 60 need not be disturbed as the head may bereadily turned or rotated on the trunnion 54. There may be any desirednumber of spaced openings 70 provided in the ange 52 to receive the endsof the screws 53 sol that the head 36 may be set in any number ofdifferent rotative positions. To actuate the discharge head the line orcable C is pulled to or cable C will frangible closure disc 12. Thefluid released through the cutter 11 and piston opening 23 may dischargethrough either one or both of the conduits 25.

It is to be noted that the present invention provides an actuatingattachment for a control head that may be set or adjusted so that anactuating cable may extend from the head in any direction. Theattachment is readily set or adjusted for actuation by forces applied tothe cable C in different directions. The device is simple inconstruction andis positive and eifective in operation.

Having described only a typical preferred form A guide boss The head mayof my invention, I do not wish to limit myself to the specific detailsset forth, but Wish to reserve to` myself any changes or variations thatmay appear to those skilled in the art or fall within the scope of thefollowing claims:

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A device for use on a discharge head for a container having a movableoperating member for opening the container, said device including a bodyto be applied to the head, a cam carried by the body for operating thesaid member, a flexible element for actuating the cam, and means wherebythe element may be made to pass from the-body in any one or" a pluralityof diierent directions, said means including a cover member for the bodyhaving an opening for passing the element from the body, and means forremovably attaching the cover member to the body in different positions.

2. A device for use on a discharge head for a container having a movableoperating member for opening the container, said device including a bodyto be applied to the head, a cam carried by the body for operating thesaid member, a eXible element for actuating the cam, `and means where bythe element may be made to pass from the body in any one of a pluralityof different directions, said means including a cover member for thebody having an opening for passing the element from the body, and screwsfor removably attaching the cover member to the body in any one of aplurality of rotative positions.

3. A device for use on a fluid container discharge head having a movableoperating member, which includes a body to be applied to the head, a camcarried by the body for operating the said member, a drum in connectionwith the cam, a iiexible element wound on the drum for operating thecam, a head on the body having an opening for passing the element fromthe body, and means for attaching the head to the body in any one of aplurality or different rotative positions.

4. A device for use on a discharge head for a container having a movableoperating member for opening the container, said device including a bodyto be applied to the head, a cam carried by the body for operating thesaid member, a drum in connection with the cam, a exible element Woundon the drum for operating the cam, a head on the body having an openingfor passing the element from the body, and means for attaching the headto the body in any one of a plurality of different rotative positions sothat the element may pass from the drum in different directions, saidmeans including a screw passing through an opening in the head andadapted to be threaded into any one of a plurality of spaced openings inthe body.

5. A device forruse on a fluid container discharge head having a movableoperating stem which includes, a body adapted to be mounted on the head,a cam within the body for operating the stern, a drum in connection withthe cam, a ilexible operating element wound on the drum, a head for thebody having an opening for passing the element from the body, meanswhereby the head may be attached to the body in different rotativepositions so that the element may pass from the body in diierentdirections, and means on the head for pivotally supporting the cam.

6. A device for use on a fluid container discharge head having a movableoperating stem which includes, a body adapted to be mounted on the head,a cam within the body for operating the stem, a drum in connection withthe cam, a flexible operating element wound on the drum, a head for thebody having an opening for passing the element from the cable, means onthe head for pivotally supporting the cam in the body, and means fordetachably mounting the head on the body in any one of a plurality ofdiierent rotative positions.

7. A device for use on a fluid container discharge head having vamovable operating stem which includes, a body adapted to be mounted onthe head, a cam within the body for operating the stein, an end plate onthe body pivotally supporting the cam, a drum on the cam within the endplate, a iieXible element Wound on the drum for operating the cam, therebeing an opening in the end plate for passing the cable from the body,and means for detachably mounting the end plate on the body in any dneof a plurality of diilerent rotative positions so that the element maypass from the body in different directions.

8. A device for use on a fluid container discharge head having a movableoperating stem which includes, a' body adapted to be mounted on thehead, a cam within the body for operating the stem, a drum in connectionwith the cam, a flexible operating element wound on the drum, a head forthe body having an opening for passing the 'flexible element from thebody, a shaft on the cam passing through an opening in the head, and anindicating arm on the shaft at the exterior of the body.

OZRO N. WISWELL.

